Peach tree named &#39;supechtwentythree&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct peach tree variety,  Prunus persica,  cv. ‘Supechtwentythree’ is characterized by having very early ripening, large-size fruit, with medium brix, non-melting flesh and a large percentage of over-color.

Latin name of the genus and species claimed: Prunus persica.

Variety denomination: ‘Supechtwentythree’.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the discovery and asexual propagation of a newand distinct variety of peach, Prunus persica cv. ‘Supechtwentythree’.The new variety was first selected in May 2009 by Terry Bacon as breedernumber: ‘PE1049’. The new variety was first evaluated by Terry Baconnear Wasco, Calif. in Kern County. The variety ‘Supechtwentythree’ wasoriginated by hybridization.

The new variety ‘Supechtwentythree’ is characterized by very earlyripening, large-size fruit, having medium brix, non-melting flesh and alarge percentage of over-color.

The seed parent is ‘PE226’ (unpatented breeding selection), and thepollen parent is ‘Supechseventeen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,588). Theparent varieties were first crossed in February 2006, with the date ofsowing being February 2007, and the date of first flowering beingFebruary 2009. The new peach variety ‘Supechtwentythree’ was firstasexually propagated by Terry Bacon near Wasco, Kern County, Calif. inFebruary 2010 by dormant grafting.

The new variety ‘Supechtwentythree’ is distinguished from its seedparent, ‘PE226’, in that harvest of the fruit of the new variety startsabout five days later than for ‘PE226’ and the fruit size of the newvariety ‘Supechtwentythree’ is larger at 185 g compared to 170 g for‘PE226’.

The new variety ‘Supechtwentythree’ is similar to its pollen parent,‘Supechseventeen’, in that harvest of the fruit of both varieties startsat a similar time. However, the new variety ‘Supechtwentythree’ has alow chill requirement of 200 chill units compared to 300 chill units for‘Supechseventeen’, and fruit of the new variety ‘Supechtwentthree’ hasnon-melting flesh compared to melting flesh for ‘Supechseventeen’.

The fruit of the new variety ‘Supechtwentythree’ ripens about the sametime as ‘Snow Angel’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,750). However, the fruit ofthe new variety ‘Supechtwentythree’ has yellow flesh while the fruit of‘Snow Angel’ has white flesh. Further, the new variety‘Supechtwentythree’ has a larger fruit weight at 185 g compared to 135 gfor ‘Snow Angel’. The fruit of the new variety ‘Supechtwentythree’ alsohas a lower brix:acid ratio at 17% compared to 32% for ‘Snow Angel’.

The fruit of the new variety ‘Supechtwentythree’ has similar size to‘Supechfifteen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,177), but the fruit of the newvariety ‘Supechtwentythree’ has a higher degree of over-color at 90+%compared to 80% for the fruit of ‘Supechfifteen’. Additionally, thefruit of the new variety ‘Supechtwentythree’ has a higher brix:acidratio at 17% compared to 11% for Supechfifteen’.

The fruit of the new variety ‘Supechtwentythree’ has a similarpercentage of over-color and the same yellow flesh color as that of‘Brittney Lane’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,286). However, the fruit of thenew variety ‘Supechtwentythree’ ripens earlier than that of ‘BrittneyLane’ and has a smaller fruit weight at 185 g compared to 230 g for‘Brittney Lane’.

The new variety ‘Supechtwentythree’ has been shown to maintain itsdistinguishing characteristics through successive asexual propagationsby, for example, cuttings and grafting.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color photographic illustration shows typical specimensof the foliage and fruit of the peach variety ‘Supechtwentythree’. Theillustration shows the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves andexterior and sectional views of the fruit. The photographic illustrationwas taken shortly after the fruit was picked and the colors are asnearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of thistype.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small lettersignify that the name of that color, as used in common speech is aptlydescriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designatevalues based upon the R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, England, 1986.

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to 8 year old‘Supechtwentythree’ trees grown in the vicinity of Wasco, Kern County,Calif., during 2017, and is believed to apply to plants of the varietygrown under similar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

-   Tree:    -   -   General.—(Measurements taken on 8-year-old trees unless            otherwise noted.). Size: Medium. Reaches a height of            approximately 3 meters with normal pruning. Vigor: Strong.            Top shoot growth of about 1.5 meters during the first            growing season. Growth: Semi-upright. Productivity: Very            Productive. Fertility: Self-fertile. Hardiness: Hardy in all            fruit growing areas of California; winter chilling            requirement is approximately 200 hours at or below 7.2° C.            Disease Resistance/Susceptibility: No specific testing for            relative plant disease resistance/susceptibility has been            undertaken. Under close observation in Kern County, Calif.,            no particular plant/fruit disease resistance/susceptibility            has been observed.        -   Trunk.—(Measurements taken at approximately 30 cm above the            soil line.). Diameter: Approximately 20 cm. Texture: Medium            shaggy, increases with the age of the tree. Trunk color:            About Light Greyed-Green 198D with highlights of Medium            Greyed-Red 182B, becoming about Dark Greyed-Purple 183B with            age.        -   Branches.—(Measurements taken at approximately 90 cm above            the soil line.). Diameter: Approximately 13 cm. Texture:            Medium shaggy; increasing with tree age. Color: About Light            Grey 201D with highlights of Medium Greyed-Red 182B,            becoming about Dark Greyed-Purple 183A with age. Lenticels            Density: Approximately 3 per cm². Lenticels Color: About            Light Grey 201D. Lenticels Length: Approximately 5 mm.            Lenticels Width: Approximately 2 mm.        -   One year old shoots.—(Data taken in May at midpoint of            current-season growth.). Size: Average diameter            approximately 5 mm. Color: Topside: About Medium            Yellow-Green 146C. Underside: About Medium Yellow-Green            146C. Internode Length: Medium; approximately 2-3 cm, mostly            2.6 cm. Lenticels and Density: Plentiful; about 12 per cm².            Color: About Medium Grey 201C. Lenticel Dimensions: Width:            Approximately 0.8 mm. Length: Approximately 1 mm. Presence            of Anthocyanin coloration: Absent or very sparse. Intensity            of Anthocyanin on upper side of shoots: Not applicable.            Density of Flower Buds: Medium, two per node.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaves.—(Data taken in May on fully expanded leaves at            midpoint of current-season growth.). Average Length: Medium;            approximately 14 cm without petiole. Average Width: Medium;            approximately 4.1 cm. Length: Width ratio: Medium; about            3.4:1. Shape: Elliptic. Color: Upper Surface: About Dark            Green 139A. Lower Surface: About Medium Green 138B. Angle at            Base: Acute. Angle at Apex: Acute. Vein Color: About Light            Green 139D. Presence of Red Coloration of Mid-vein on the            Lower Side: Absent or very sparse. Surface Texture: Smooth            on both top and bottom surfaces. Shape in the Cross Section:            Concave. Leaf Blade Tip: Curved downwardly. Undulation of            Margin: Slight. Margin: Crenate.        -   Petiole.—Average Length: Medium; approximately 9 mm. Average            Diameter: Approximately 2 mm. Color: About Medium Green            139C.        -   Stipules.—Number/Leaf bud: Usually 2. Typical Length:            Medium; approximately 10 mm. Color: About Dark Greyed-Orange            166A when dried. Persistence: Falls off.        -   Leaf glands (nectaries).—Form: Reniform. Average Number and            arrangement: Usually 2, alternating. Predominately on            petiole. Dimension: Approximately 1 mm long by 0.8 mm wide.            Color: About Dark Greyed-Yellow 162A, becoming Dark            Greyed-Orange 166A over time.        -   Vegetative buds.—Bud Dimensions: Approximately 5 mm long by            2.5 mm wide. Bud Shape: Conical. Color: About Dark            Greyed-Orange 177A.        -   Flower buds.—Bud Dimensions: Approximately 3 mm long by 2 mm            wide. Bud Shape: Ovoid. Color: About Dark Greyed-Orange            177A. Ratio of Flower Buds to Vegetative Buds: 2 flower            buds: 1 vegetative bud.-   Flowers:    -   -   General.—Type of Bloom: Showy (Rosette). Diameter of Fully            Opened Flower: Approximately 60 mm. Flower Aroma: Slightly            aromatic. Time of Beginning of Leaf Bud Burst: Early, with            bloom. Flower Blooming Period: First Bloom: Approximately            February 6. Full Bloom: Approximately February 10. Time of            Bloom: Early. Location of First Bloom: Tips of one-year-old            shoots. Location of Full Bloom: Central part of the tree            canopy. Duration of Bloom: Approximately 10 days.        -   Pedicels.—Dimensions: Approximately 4 mm long by 2 mm wide.            Color: About Medium Green 138B.        -   Sepals.—Number: 5. Shape: Medium ovate. Position: Adpressed            to petals. Length: Approximately 7 mm. Width: Approximately            5 mm. Surface Texture: Smooth. Color: About Dark            Greyed-Purple 184A.        -   Petals.—Number: 5. Arrangement: Slightly overlapping. Color:            About Light Pink 54D. Surface Texture: Smooth. Dimensions:            Approximately 25 mm long by 25 mm wide. Shape: Circular.            Apex shape: Rounded. Base shape: Narrows at point of            attachment. Undulation of Margins: Medium. Frequency of            Flowers with Double Petals: Never. Claw: Partially            developed.        -   Stigma.—Position Compared to Anthers: About the same level.        -   Stamens.—Number: About 38. Length: Variable, ranging from 8            mm to 11 mm. Filament Color: About White 155A with            highlights of Light Pink 54D. Amount of Pollen: Moderate.            Flower Pollen Color: About Medium Red 42B. Position Compared            to Petals: At the same level.        -   Anthers.—Pollen: Present.        -   Pistil.—Length: Approximately 18 mm. Ovary Diameter:            Approximately 2 mm. Frequency of Supplementary Pistils: Few.        -   Receptacle.—Depth: Medium; about 4 mm. Pubescence of Inner            Surface (at Pink Bud Stage): Absent. Pubescence of Outer            Surface: Present.        -   Ovary.—Pubescence: Present.-   Fruit:    -   -   General.—(Description taken at firm-mature near Wasco, Kern            County, Calif.). Date of First Pick: Approximately May 3.            Date of Last Pick: Approximately May 13. Time of Maturity            for Consumption: Very early.        -   Peduncle.—Dimensions: Approximately 7 mm long by 3 mm wide.            Color: About Light Green 139D.        -   Fruit size.—Size: Large; about 185 g. Height: Tall; about            72 mm. Diameter Perpendicular to Suture: Approximately            78 mm. Diameter Ventral Side, Facing Suture: Approximately            78 mm.        -   Fruit shape.—Shape Viewed from Apex: Circular. Shape in            Lateral view, Perpendicular to Suture: Circular. Shape            Ventral Side, Facing Suture: Circular. Symmetry Viewed from            Pistil End: Symmetric or slightly asymmetric. Shape of            Pistil End: Slightly depressed. Mucron Tip at Pistil End:            Occasionally present. Depth of Stalk Cavity: Medium; about            8 mm. Width of Stalk Cavity: Medium; about 7 mm. Promenence            of Suture: Weak or flat.        -   Fruit skin.—Thickness: Medium. Adherence to Flesh: Strong.            Taste: Neutral. Surface Texture: Smooth. Reticulation:            Absent. Tendency to Crack: None. Pubescence: Slight. Density            of Pubescence of skin: Medium. Ground color: About Medium            Yellow-Orange 16B. Relative Area of Overcolor: Very large            (about 90+%). Overcolor Color (Hue) of Skin: About Medium            Red 46B to Dark Red 46A. Pattern of Overcolor of Skin:            Marbled.        -   Flesh.—Ripens: Evenly. Color: About Medium Yellow 14B with            Medium Orange-Red 34B bleeding in from the perimeter.            Anthocyanin Coloration of Flesh Next to Skin: Weak when            firm-mature, becoming stronger as fruit ripens. Anthocyanin            Coloration of Flesh in Central Part of Flesh: Weak.            Anthocyanin Coloration of Flesh Around Stone: Absent or very            weak when firm-mature. Flavor: Sweet mild. Firmness: Firm;            typically 10 lb pressure at harvest. Juice: Medium; able to            squeeze free juice easily. Acidity: Medium; 0.71%            titratable. Sweetness: Medium; about 12% brix at harvest.            Flesh Type: Non-melting. Amount of Fiber: Moderate.        -   Stone.—Stone Size: Medium. Size compared to Fruit: Medium.            Length: Approximately 27 mm. Diameter Facing Suture:            Approximately 20 mm. Diameter Perpendicular to Suture Plane:            Approximately 26 mm. Stone Color: About Medium Greyed-Yellow            161B when dried. Anthocyanin Color: Absent. Intensity of            Brown Color: Light. Position of Maximum: Toward middle.            Shape in Lateral View Perpendicular to Suture: Circular.            Shape in Ventral View Facing Suture: Medium elliptic. Shape            in Basal View: Medium elliptic. Base shape: Nearly straight.            Apex shape: Slight point at tip. Ridges: Rounded throughout.            Outgrowing Keel: Partially developed. Fibers: Not visible.            Symmetry in Lateral View: Symmetric or slightly asymmetric.            Relief of Surface: Predominately pits. Width of Stalk End:            Narrow. Tendency to Split: Low. Degree of Adherence to            Flesh: Strong.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of peach tree as herein described and illustrated. 